Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chosen of Bane 12-28-04, 09:33 AM	As soon as our current campaign comes to an end (within a couple months or so) I will be DMing a game where all PC's are members of the Zhentarim. We've never done an evil game before and we're all pretty good role-players so it shouldn't be a problem. I do have a few questions though... As I'm preparing and fleshing out all the important NPC's, I have no clue when it comes to military rank. If someone could please post a list of military ranks in order of authority it would be greatly appreciated. (captain, lieutenant, major, etc...) I have no clue about that sort of thing. Secondly, if anybody has DMed a game for Zhentarim players, let me know how it went and if you have any tips or potential plothooks. The campaign will be starting Hammer 1, 1373 and the group will be part of a small fort on the coast consisting of about 40 Zhents in all (counting officers). I already have some ideas but if anybody has some that may be better than mine I wouldn't mind stealing them or using them as alternatives. When I did the breakdown of the fort, I came up with these numbers (PC's included). 1 mid-high level Leader 2 mid-level officers 1 mid-level priest (healer, item creator) (mid-level wizard was recently killed) 5 low-level divine casters 6 low-level arcane casters 25 low-level non-casters (includes phalanx fighters, bowmen, rogues, etc...) Does that break down seem about right? Need more officers? More casters? What kind of support staff should I be looking at? So far I was thinking... Engineer + Assistant Stablehand Chef + 2 assistants Blacksmith + 2 assistants Quartermaster + assistant Let me know if you have any tips or advice for any of these problems/questions. Thanks in advance.
Dargoth 12-30-04, 05:08 AM	As soon as our current campaign comes to an end (within a couple months or so) I will be DMing a game where all PC's are members of the Zhentarim. We've never done an evil game before and we're all pretty good role-players so it shouldn't be a problem. I do have a few questions though... As I'm preparing and fleshing out all the important NPC's, I have no clue when it comes to military rank. If someone could please post a list of military ranks in order of authority it would be greatly appreciated. (captain, lieutenant, major, etc...) I have no clue about that sort of thing. Secondly, if anybody has DMed a game for Zhentarim players, let me know how it went and if you have any tips or potential plothooks. The campaign will be starting Hammer 1, 1373 and the group will be part of a small fort on the coast consisting of about 40 Zhents in all (counting officers). I already have some ideas but if anybody has some that may be better than mine I wouldn't mind stealing them or using them as alternatives. When I did the breakdown of the fort, I came up with these numbers (PC's included). 1 mid-high level Leader 2 mid-level officers 1 mid-level priest (healer, item creator) (mid-level wizard was recently killed) 5 low-level divine casters 6 low-level arcane casters 25 low-level non-casters (includes phalanx fighters, bowmen, rogues, etc...) Does that break down seem about right? Need more officers? More casters? What kind of support staff should I be looking at? So far I was thinking... Engineer + Assistant Stablehand Chef + 2 assistants Blacksmith + 2 assistants Quartermaster + assistant Let me know if you have any tips or advice for any of these problems/questions. Thanks in advance. I suggest you look in Lords of Darkness as it has an example of a Zhentarim outpost, other places to look are the Raiders of Galaths roost module in Dungeon 87 and the Zhentarim Outpost in th old Ruins of Advenutre module.
Cunning Linguist 12-30-04, 05:16 AM	A captain is around level 6-7 fighter, under him would be a Lieutenant, around level 4-5, under him again there would be a Sergeant, a level 2-3. Anything lower then that is just a soldier or even lower, a guard. Wizards and Clerics should have there own ranking. Neither of these are trained in the ways of orders and such, and should have another wizard they are under. This wizard in turn should have a standing with the Lieutenant. Same with Cleric. The head of the operation should be a Cleric of Bane btw, being 2-3 levels higher then the highest ranking person in the base. Other then that, I think you got that base nailed when it comes to amount of people/soldiers
Dargoth 12-30-04, 05:39 AM	I just asked Ed over at Candlekeep what the ranks and unit structure for the Zhentarim was
Chosen of Bane 12-30-04, 07:50 AM	Thanks for the help. Somehow I wasn't too far off. I have a Captain at level 9, two lieutenants at level 7, and two sargents at level 4. I just wanted to double check because I didn't want to have the hierarchy way off and look like I don't know what I'm talking about. I made the lietenants level 7 because I already had personalities picked out for them and wanted them to be in certain prestige classes. Great call on asking Ed Greenwood, I've just recently started posting on Candlekeep, I'll have to check it out some more. Now, I know adventure ideas have been beaten to death on these boards but most are for typical good campaigns. Anybody have ideas for an adventure for a Zhentarim campaign. I've been writing my own for quite some time now and it gets pretty weak around levels 3-5 and then picks back up again. So if anybody has some ideas for that level range (or other levels) please post them. Thanks again.
GreenDay 12-30-04, 05:05 PM	Hi theres a book about playing evil in the Realms coming out soon! :eek: :) :evillaugh
Snow Savant 01-04-05, 02:32 PM	Read this document link ... A Comprehensive Guide to Zhent Army Troops (http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/guide_zhent.htm) Granted, it uses 2nd edition stats, but conversion to 3.0/3.5 should be easy enough. XO, Snow :cloud9:
friedmad 01-05-05, 12:03 PM	Read this document link ... A Comprehensive Guide to Zhent Army Troops (http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/guide_zhent.htm) Granted, it uses 2nd edition stats, but conversion to 3.0/3.5 should be easy enough. XO, Snow :cloud9: That sight has been converted to 30/35